Lent / Easter 2017

3/1 (Ash Wednesday): “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God” – Joel 2:13 During Lent, we are called to repentance through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Can I change my heart and not just my habits?

3/2: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23 There are many things in my life that upset me. Can I carry my crosses without complaint?

3/3: “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.” – Ps. 51:19 Am I truly “humble of heart”? Can I sacrifice my anger and frustration with the world and seek God’s will?

3/4: Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.” – Luke 5:31 What are the “sicknesses” that keep me from embracing and living my faith?

3/5 (1st Sunday of Lent): Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. – Mt. 4:1 What are the biggest temptations I face? What can I do to strengthen myself to face them?3/6: “When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” – Matt. 25:39 During Lent, we are called to repentance through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Can I change my heart and not just my habits?

3/7: “But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” – Matt. 6:15 Who do I need to forgive in my life? Who do I need to seek forgiveness from?

3/8: “The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.” – Jonah 3:5 What am I willing to do to show God that I believe in Him and that I am sorry for my sins?

3/9: Queen Esther (said) “Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand.” – Esther 43:14-15 When I feel completely alone and afraid, do I trust that God is there with me no matter what happens? Do I pray when things are going well, too?

3/10: “But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed … he shall surely live. He shall not die.” – Ezekiel 18:21 Do I believe that God loves me? Do I accept that I can be forgiven for my sins, no matter how bad, if I am truly sorry and turn away from them?

3/11: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” – Matt. 5:44 How do I overcome the fear and anger that I feel for those I consider enemies? Can I pray that God will enter their hearts with healing and forgiveness too?

3/12 (2nd Sunday of Lent): “So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord … but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.” – 2 Timothy 1:8 Do I stand up for my faith to those who put it down, even if it is friends or family? Do I live my faith open for all to see, or do I hide it?

3/13: “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37 When I pick up a paper or turn on the news, am I judging others on what I see? Do I wish them harm instead of forgiving them?

3/14: “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?" – Psalm. 50:16-17 Am I Catholic in name only? What teachings of the Church do I ignore or reject? Why?

3/15: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” – Matt. 20:22 Am I willing to pay the price demanded of me to follow Jesus? Am I willing to pay the price if I don’t?

3/16: “And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’” – Luke 16:24 When I am faced with trials or suffering, do I take advantage of others to ease my own discomfort, mindless to the suffering they face?

3/17: “When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his brothers, they hated him so much that they could not say a kind word to him.” – Genesis 37:4 Who am I jealous of? Do I wish harm or bad luck on family members, former friends or co-workers because of perceived preferential treatment they have received?

3/18: “His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’” – Luke 15:21 Am I estranged from family, former friends or co-workers because of my personal actions or sins? Am I afraid of admitting I was wrong, of asking them for forgiveness?

3/19 (3rd Sunday of Lent): “…and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” John 4:42 Do I listen to others when they talk of Christ? Do I speak of Christ to others in a way that leads them to Him? Do I believe that He can save the world today?

3/20 (Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse): “But they did not understand what he said to them.” – Luke 2:50) Do I frequently misunderstand the words or actions of others? Can I accept that there are things that my children or those that I love do that hurt me that are not sins?

3/21: “…for those who trust in You cannot be put to shame.” – Daniel 3:40 Am I embarrassed to practice my faith in front of others? Do I allow my trust in God to give me courage when I am facing challenges in my life?

3/22: “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:19 Do my actions honor God’s laws, or do they show a disregard for them? Have I led others astray by my actions?

3/23: “This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction.” – Jeremiah 7:28 Do I live in a God-fearing nation? Am I willing to defend the laws of God, such as the those that demand respect for all life, even when they conflict with those of the nation?

3/24: “And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” – Mark 12:34 Do I really understand what it means to “love God and love my neighbor”? What keeps me from loving God or my neighbor?

3/25(Solemnity of the Annunciation): “May it be done to me according to your word.” – Luke 1:38 Am I ready and willing to accept whatever it is that God has planned for me? Can I accept the bad with the good?

3/26 (3rd Sunday of Lent):“… God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart.” – 1 Samuel 7 Do I judge others by appearance? How can I look beyond the surface and into another’s heart?

3/27: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” – John 4:48 What part of the Gospel message do I have trouble believing? What “proof” do I seek from God to overcome my unbelief?

3/28: “Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary.” – Ezekiel 47:12 Am I replenished with the water of faith that I receive each Sunday? Am I bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom as a result?

3/29: “…and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” – John 5:30 Do I seek my will or God’s will for me? Do I understand what God’s will is for me? If not, what am I doing to discover it?

3/30: “You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.” – John 5:39 Do I take time to read the Bible? How do I deal with those things in the Bible that I find hard to understand or accept?

3/31: “But we know where he is from.” – John 7:27 How often do I judge others because of what I think I know about them? Does where a person comes from affect my opinion of them?

4/1: “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” – John 7:46 Do I “hear” Jesus speaking to me, personally? What is he saying to me that is different than what the world says to me?

4/2 (5th Sunday of Lent): “Let us also go to die with him.” – John 11:16 It is easier to face trials when we don’t face them alone. Do I have friends who will be with me through the trials I face? Am I a friend enough to others to be with them through theirs? Are we Christian enough to stand together against those who would persecute our faith?

4/3: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” – John 8:7 Am I quick to condemn others when they have done something wrong? Do I justify myself by thinking my sins are less serious than theirs?

4/4: “He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” – John 8:29 Do I think God has left me alone when something bad happens to me? Do I think I need to please Him to earn His love? Can I accept that He loves me even when I’ve done something wrong?

4/5: “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.” – John 8:34 Am I enslaved by my sins? What are my “habitual” sins? hat demands do they place on me? How can I break free of them?

4/6: “For your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.” – Genesis 17:9 If Jesus came to establish a new Covenant, what must I do to keep his Covenant? Am I doing it?

4/7: “LORD of hosts, you test the just, you see mind and heart” – Jeremiah 20:12 Do I believe that God knows what is in my mind and heart? Am I honest with myself? Do I see the trials I face as an opportunity to build character and prepare me for greater challenges?

4/8: “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.” – John 11:47 Do I believe in the many signs performed by Jesus as recorded in the Gospels? Do I see the signs he’s performing today? What am I going to do?

4/9 (Palm Sunday):“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” – Matthew 26:21 How many times have I betrayed Jesus through my actions or inactions? Have I taken the time to ask for his forgiveness?

4/10: “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” – John 12:8 Do I use Jesus’ words as an excuse to neglect the poor? Do I use the poor as an excuse to neglect God?

4/11: “Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.” – Isaiah 49:11 Do I feel frustrated when my good efforts seem to be ignored or unappreciated? Are my efforts focused on following God’s will, or for my own satisfaction?

4/12: “Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” – Matthew 26:22 How often have I betrayed God’s trust in me? Have I betrayed the trust others have placed in me?

4/13 (Holy Thursday): “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” – John 13:15 Do I follow the example of Jesus in my everyday life? Am I willing to sacrifice myself in service to others?

4/14 (Good Friday):“Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?” – John 18:11 Do I accept that the trials in my life have meaning, even if I don’t understand what they are? Do I ask God for strength to face them?

4/15 (Easter Vigil):“Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 6:11 Am I dead to sin? Am I living for God in Christ Jesus, or am I still living for earthly pleasures and rewards? How can I bring them into balance?

4/16 (Easter Sunday):“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad!” – Psalm 118:24 Jesus Lives! Does the fact that Jesus lives make a difference in my life today? Am I ready to rejoice because Christ is in my life?

Thank you for journeying with me through Lent. May your Easter Season be one of joy and heavenly blessings!

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The opinions expressed here are those of the author only and do not represent the opinions of any other person or entity. All material not otherwise noted copyright Bob Bonomi. Permission to use for non-commercial uses granted with appropriate credit given to the author.